“Ron!” said an exasperated Harry

“welcome back mate” said Ron with a rather awkward smile stretched across his freckled face

“what’s going on? What are you doing here? Are you staying? Are you..”

“Calm down Harry, he can’t answer all your questions at ones!” said a mild mannered voice from behind Ron. Suddenly Harry realised that they were not alone in the kitchen, there were many red headed people sitting around the table, in fact the whole Weasley family were sitting there smiling up at him (all except Percy of course) and not only were the Weasley’s there but also Remus Lupin! It had been Lupin who had told Harry to calm down.

“What are you all doing here? Has there been a meeting for the order?” asked a beaming Harry. Harry noticed that everyone seemed to shift awkwardly in their chairs, Fred and George stopped smiling, Ginny looked away.

Mrs Weasley who had remained silent until now leapt to her feet “take my seat Harry, I’ll put the kettle on”

Harry felt his heart pound rapidly, terrible thoughts started to run through his mind, someone must be hurt he thought to himself, or even dead, but who?

“will someone please tell me what’s going on!” asked Harry anxiously. His palms were sweating now and he could now feel his pounding heart in his Adams apple.

“it’s O.K Harry, no one’s dead” said Ron reassuringly, as if he had read Harry’s mind.

Harry looked around waiting for someone to answer his question, no one spoke, Ginny still had her head turned away from him but he saw a tear running down her cheek that had been caught by the light.

Mr Weasley, who had taken his glasses off a few moments before to clean them with his olive green robes, had now replaced them and looked up to face Harry. He cleared his throat.

“a lot has happened in the few day’s that you last spoke to Ron, and before I proceed in telling you, I want to make it perfectly clear that none of us hold you responsible in any way!” Harry looked around the room, all the Weasley’s were nodding in agreement.

“of course we don’t” said Molly as she put a cup of tea in front of Harry and kissed the top of his head.

“allow me Molly” said Lupin as he conjured up a comfy looking green chair next to Harry. Mrs Weasley sat down and grabbed hold of Harry’s hand. Mr Weasley cleared his throat again and continued with his story.

“as I was saying, none of us..”

“ooh wait for me, I want to hear this too” said Tonks as she re entered the room, she had taken Harry’s trunk out of the room almost as soon as they had arrived, Harry supposed that she had taken it to his room.

Mr Weasley cleared his throat for the third and loudest time.

“as I was saying, we do not hold you in the least bit responsible for what has happened” Harry could see out of the corner of his eye that the Weasley’s were again nodding in agreement, though his gaze was intently held on Mr Weasly.

“and what exactly has happened” asked Harry, he was unable to contain the worry from his voice.

“well, the morning that your letter arrived we were attacked”

“WHAT!” shouted Harry

“it’s o.k, as you can see none of us were killed!”

“Who was it? Let me guess Malfoy!” spat Harry with anger

“among other’s, you see I was at work…”

“so were we” interrupted Fred

“and us said Bill with a nod towards Charlie”

“so it was just Ron, Ginny and Molly there?” asked Harry

Mrs Weasley squeezed his hand and gave him a feeble smile “yes Harry dear”

“what happened?” asked Harry again. This time Ron answered him

“me and Ginny were out in the fields practising flying, we were on our way back for dinner when we saw it” Ron had turned grey and tears were welling up in his eyes, Ginny was sobbing uncontrollably.

“it’s o.k Ginny” said George as he put his arms around his little sister

“what was it? What did you see?” asked Harry

“The Dark Mark, it was hovering over the house” Harry turned to look at Mrs Weasley, she too had tears streaming down her face. Molly took over the story from here, through broken sob’s she was able to re tell the event’s of that day to Harry

“I was in the kitchen making dinner,… the back door opened, …I didn’t turn to look I just assumed that it was Ginny and Ron coming home for their tea!” stammered Mrs Weasley

“and then I heard his voice, I felt the most unbearable pain that I’ve ever experienced and I’ve had seven children! It was enough to drive you mad! When I came around he was standing over me with his wand pointing in my face” Ginny let out a wail that was muffled by her brothers robes

“who was it?” asked Harry

“Macnair, he was the one standing over me, but there were other’s in the background. Malfoy, Goyle and both the Lestranges. They were asking about you Harry, about the Prophesy, but I didn’t know anything to tell them. Malfoy took over then, started to say nasty thing’s about my family and home. I told him that my Arthur was worth ten of him,” she looked fondly over at her husband.

“he put the curio curse on me again, I thought I was going to die” Mrs Weasley started howling and was unable to carry on.

Harry and Ron who was sitting on the other side of Molly both got up and hugged her. Harry found himself unable to stop the tears from rolling down his face, he didn’t care though! Mrs Weasley had always been like a mother to him, if she had died Harry wouldn’t know what to do with himself!

A few moments later Molly was able to resume the story, as Harry looked around there wasn’t a dry eye to be seen, Tonk’s was blowing her nose on the sleeve of her robes and Bill was crying shamelessly.

“they started asking for Ron, I told them that he had gone away but they didn’t believe me cos’ Ron and Ginny ran through the door just as I was telling them.”

“What happened then? How did you get away?” asked Harry, though he hated what he was hearing, he was desperate to know every little detail

Ron took over the story from there

“Malfoy grabbed Ginny, he threatened to kill her if I didn’t tell him what the prophecy had said”

“Hang on a minute!” interrupted Harry, something important had just occurred to him

“How did they even know that I had heard the prophecy? As far as they were concerned it had smashed and no one knew what it said!”

“oh, they have their way’s” said Mr Weasley “dark magic probably, or even spy’s”

“so you told them” sighed Harry, he was thinking out load more than questioning, of course Ron told them or other wise Ginny wouldn’t be there now

“of course I didn’t tell them” said Ron in a rather hurt tone! What do you take me for a coward?

“but Ginny” exclaimed Harry

“Harry you can be so dim sometimes!” Said Ginny, “they are death eater’s! their plan was to kill us all anyway!”

“then how did you escape?” asked Harry feeling rather abashed by Ginny’s comment

“Well you don’t think that we just barged in there unprepared” said Ron with a smirk

“Ginny hit Malfoy with the most amazing bat boggy curse I’ve ever seen!

“yeah and Ron hit Macnair with the leg locking curse” inserted Ginny enthusiastically,

“and then there was this big bang” said Ron, his voice getting louder with enthusiasm

“it was dad and moody and about another ten aurors!”

“you should have seen their faces” squealed Ginny “they looked like they were going to cry!”

“so you caught them!” said Harry excitedly

“yes and no” answered Bill to Harry’s non question.

“with the dementors gone they were able to escape azcaban in a matter of hours!” Sighed Charlie.

Of course thought Harry disappointedly, Malfoy had been at Privet Drive that very night.

“So how did you and Ginny contact the ministry to tell them?” Asked Harry

“we didn’t!” said Ron

“no, we received a tip off from Snape” answered Mr Weasley

“yes, we owe him our lives” said Mrs Weasley with a note of awe

Harry felt his stomach lurch at the sound of his name, he still held Snape responsible for Sirius’s death, and now he had gone and made himself a hero in the eyes of the Weasleys, Harry felt sick!

“it doesn’t stop him being a horrible git though” said Ginny.

Ron, George and Fred all agreed with Ginny, Harry felt a little better knowing that he wasn’t the only one who hated him

“well will you look at the time!” said Molly in an overly shocked tone. Harry looked up at the clock, he too was shocked to learn that it was three thirty in the morning. Ginny stretched her arm’s and yawned “I’m going to bed”

“me too” said Molly. Within minutes the once full kitchen was virtually empty apart from Harry, Ron, Lupin and Mr Weasley. With there being a lot more room Harry noticed how different the kitchen looked from the last time he had been there. It was a lot brighter and cleaner. Harry was about to comment on it when emerald green flames began to roar in the fire grate. Harry and Ron both jumped but Lupin and Arthur seemed unaffected by this unexpected activitey.

The flames quickly cleared and Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts stepped out of the fire grate wearing what was obviously his night robes and a very large smile.

“Dumbledore” said Ron and Harry in unison

“good morning all” he replied with a nod of his head and took the green chair that Lupin had conjured for Mrs weasley

“One of yours Remus, I never forget a chair! I have always said that you can learn a lot about a person by the chair that they conjure!” said Dumbledore

Harry felt warm and comfortable, Dumbledore always made him feel this way, safe and secure.

“well then, has there been a party?” asked dumbledore

“no of course not” answered Lupin

“good, I would have been very hurt if you had thrown a party without me!” said Dumbledore humorously.

“we’ve just been filling in Harry on the events of the last few day’s” said Mr Weasley

“and has Harry told you about his little adventure?” asked Dumbledore, he turned to look at Harry and raised his eyebrows.

The guilty feeling that Harry had experienced at Mrs Figg’s returned ten fold. Harry looked down at his feet but when he looked up Dumbledore was smiling at him. Harry felt uplifted that Dumbledore wasn’t taking his bad behaviour too seriously.

Half an hour later Harry had finished his retelling of that nights events. Everyone was wearing serious faces, including Ron.

“What was he doing there?” asked Ron

“trying to get to Harry I expect” answered Lupin

“yes, they have been very eager to learn the contents of the prophecy” said Dumbledore “though I expect that they will give up on that now that your all here and out of their reach”

“Hermione!” shouted Harry suddenly

“it’s o.k Harry, she’s holidaying with her family. The moment she get’s back she’s coming straight here” said Arthur

“how come she didn’t tell me about the holiday?” asked Harry

“it was last minute, I did want her to come straight here but her parents wanted to spend more time with her.” sighed Dumbledore

“But the death eaters aren’t going to bother her parents when they get back are they?” asked Mr Weasley in a very alarmed tone

“no no” answered Dumbledore with a shake of his head

“it’s just those closest to Harry they want, Hermione’s parent’s won’t be able to tell them anything about him” said Dumbledore reassuringly. Mr Weasley sighed with relief.

Harry felt uneasy, his best friends in the whole world were in mortal danger because of him! Because of his stupid scar and that prophecy! Dumbledore clenched Harry’s shoulder tightly.

“this is not your fault, so don’t go blaming yourself!”

This was not the first time Harry had suspected that Dumbledore could read his mind!

“yeah!” said Ron

“we don’t blame you so don’t go blaming yourself!”

“you didn’t ask for this to happen Harry” said Lupin softly

Harry felt happy again, he was so grateful for having such good friends and so many people who cared about him.

“right then, up to bed! We’ll talk some more in the morning, or perhaps the afternoon would be a better time to call around?” enquired Dumbledore.

“afternoon” said Harry and Ron together as they left the room. Harry didn’t even bother to get unchanged, he just collapsed on to his bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter two continued

Harry was woken the following day by Ginny, who was pulling at his arm

“come on Harry, time to get up! Dumbledores here to see you”

Harry shrugged Ginny off him and opened one eye. Ron was in the bed opposite fast asleep with drool running down his chin.

Ginny was now pulling at Ron, who shot up in his bed saying

“it was Harry who dun it, it was!”

Harry laughed, “are you telling on me again?” he asked sleepily.

Ginny left the room and said “hurry up you two, it’s quarter past three and Dumbledore has been here for half an hour already!”

Harry got out of his bed, he was about to change when he realised he was still fully dressed, as he looked around the room he noticed how different it was, the last time he was here it was dark and depressing. Now the room was bright, with blue walls and bedding.

“what’s happened here?” asked Harry

Ron was still lying in his bed rubbing his eyes. “what do you mean?”

“The room has been decorated!”

“Oh yeah, the whole house has been done out, didn’t you notice last night?” asked Ron

“I noticed something different about the kitchen but I think I might have been asleep when we came upstairs!” answered Harry.

Ron was right, someone had been very busy here since Harry’s last visit. The portrait of Mrs Black was gone from the stairs, the whole place had been given a lick of paint. It seemed to shine brightly! Harry noted how different it was, it was if it were a different house! The chandelier in the hall way that was once dirty with dust and cobwebs was now glowing and shimmering brightly, Harry remembered how it had once been shaped as a snake, but now it had phoenix’s carved out of the crystal. It no longer had the appearance of a house owned by dark wizards. It looked as though it were owned by a wealthy version of the Weasley family.

Harry and Ron entered the kitchen and were greeted by Ginny, Mrs Weasley, Lupin and Dumbledore. There was a fantastic breakfast spread on the table awaiting them.

“Slept well I hope?” enquired Dumbledore

Harry nodded with a smile, he had slept well, it was the first night in weeks that he hadn’t dreamt about Sirius.

Harry and Ron loaded their plates up with beacon, eggs, sausages, beans, tomatoes, fried mushrooms, hash browns, black pudding and toast. Mrs Weasley poured them both a cup of tea.

“hungry are we?” said Lupin

“I feel like I could eat a dragon” replied Ron

“where is Charlie?” Ron’s comment reminded Harry of Charlie, who worked with dragons in Romania. He had been present last night, Harry assumed that he was on holidays.

“he’s working” answered Lupin

“working? He’s gone back to Romania? Asked Harry disappointedly

“No, he’s working full time for the order now” Dumbledore told Harry.

Harry looked up at Mrs Weasley, last year she had a breakdown over a boggart that had taken the form of her dead family, but to Harry’s surprise she was beaming proudly.

Harry and Ron didn’t say a word throughout breakfast, they were too busy eating. Instead they listened to Lupin and Dumbledore converse on the advancement of a cure for werewolves. When they had finished Molly cleared their plates away and sat down next to her daughter.

“now that we have all finished eating and are sitting comfortably, I shall begin” said Dumbledore in a serious voice.

“I know that you probably won’t want to talk about this right now Harry, but I feel that this issue needs to be sorted out.”

Harry suddenly felt tense, he was going to punished for his foolish behaviour last night.

“Sirius stated in his will that Grimmauld Place and all it’s contents were to be left to you Harry” stated Dumbledore

Harry gave a sigh of relief. “oh right, I didn’t know that he was leaving me anything!” said a surprised Harry

“So what’s the problem?” he asked Dumbledore

“oh, there’s no problem Harry, I’d just prefer if we all know where we stand. Up until that night at the department of mysteries this house was being used, with Sirius’s permission as head quarters for the order of the phoenix, and now it has been passed to you” said Dumbledore

“so you want to know if you can still use it?” asked Harry

“yes, that’s what I wanted to ask” said Dumbledore with a smile.

Harry didn’t even have to give it a second thought. “of course you can use it!” Harry felt slightly surprised that he was even being asked.

“oh, that’s good of you Harry, but there is one more thing, you see we haven’t been using it just for the order. There are people who live here full time”

“that’s fine” said Harry. Who ever lives here can live here for as long as they like”

Lupin was smiling brightly at him from across the table

“just out of curiosity, who does live here exactly?” asked Harry

“well I do” said Lupin

“and us” said Mrs Weasley. “well, most of us, there’s me and Arthur, Ginny, Ron, Fred, George and Charlie

“where’s Bill living then?” asked Harry curiously

“Bill’s shacked up with that Fleur!” answered Ron with a smirk

“and that’s about it” said Dumbledore

Without thinking Harry blurted out “What about Percy?” the room fell silent. The Weasley’s had fallen out with Percy last year when he refused to believe that Voldermort was back.

“Dad said that he got the sack from the ministry the same time as Fudge did” said Ginny

“we haven’t seen hind nor hair of him since” chipped in Ron

“well, actually that’s not quite true” said Molly nervously. All heads turned on her and she related to her audience what had happened a few day’s previously

“the morning of the attack, Percy came around to see me. He’s really upset about what has happened”

“so he should be” piped up Ron

“That’s exactly why I haven’t told anyone about his visit! We all need to forgive and forget, what happened, happened we just need to move on” said Mrs Weasley sternly

“your quite right Molly” said Lupin

“Yes I agree, to forgive is a virtue” said Dumbledore.

For some reason he was looking at Harry, his pale blue eyes felt as if they were looking right into his very soul. Harry wanted to look away, he felt ashamed of himself but he didn’t know why. He was saved the trouble however as Dumbledore got to his feet “another pot of tea I think!”

Ron and Ginny were shooting dark looks at one another from across the table, which told him that they were none too pleased about welcoming Percy back with open arms. Harry decided to change the conversation

“so, who has done all the redecorating? It looks great here!”

“ Sirius did a lot of it, he wanted the place to look nice for you Harry” said Lupin quietly. Harry looked away, he didn’t want to talk about his Godfather. Dumbledore seemed to sense this and added quickly

“I managed to get that screaming witch down off the wall, it wasn’t an easy job I can tell you!”

“what did you do with all the stuff that was here before?” asked Harry

“oh don’t worry, we put it all in the attic, so you can sort it out later if you like!”

Said Lupin brightly. Harry was saved the trouble of finding an excuse not to do it when Ron said

“I think we’ll leave that till Hermione get’s here. She’ll probably enjoy it”

Harry decided that he wanted to explore the newly furnished house, so Ron took him on a guided tour. Every room looked larger and grander, none though as much as the study where the meeting’s took place.

Harry had once considered this the very worst room in the house, but now it was by far his favourite. The walls had been papered in a patterned gold colour, the furniture was all made of wood that was so grand it almost looked gold. There were many different golden objects placed around the room, but his favourite feature was the large rectangular table in the centre. It was made of the same gold coloured wood as the rest of the furniture, but in the centre of it was an even brighter gold circular emblem with a phoenix emblazed on it. It was the most beautiful object that Harry had ever laid his eyes on. He ran his fingers over the emblem

“Mundungus made it! Can you believe that?” said Ron

“your kidding me!”

“no I’m not! Dumbledore told me” Harry and Ron sat at either end of the table.

“do you think they might let us join the Order?” asked Harry

“no way! Mum had a fit when Fred and George joined, she’s not about to let us”

“Fred and George are in the order?”

“yes, but they haven’t been to a meeting yet” answered Ron

“Do you think they’d tell us about what’s going on?” asked Harry

“they better had, or I’ll get Ginny to put a bat bogy curse on them!”

The day passed very quickly, seeing as they had not woken up until quarter past three that afternoon it was hardly surprising. At around eight thirty that evening the door bell rang, Harry and Ron both ran to get it but Ginny got there first.

Mad eye moody was stood there looking as wild as ever holding a big white ball of fluff in a cage!

“Hedwig” cried Harry loudly as he ran down the stairs. He took the cage from Mad eye and opened it, the great white owl inside took flight and circled the chandelier before coming to rest on Harry’s shoulder. Hedwig nibbled at Harry’s ear affectionately while hooting softly.

“a good little owl you’ve got there” growled Mad eye.

“she took a nip at my nose when I wouldn’t let her return to you!”

Mad eyes nose was already missing a huge chunk,

“a little nip from an owl wouldn’t make much difference!” thought Harry to himself.

The grand old clock in the hall way struck eight o clock, a shrill voice drifted up from the kitchen.

“time for lunch”

Harry, Ron, and Ginny accompanied by mad eye trotted down the stone steps to the kitchen, where Molly had called them from.

The kitchen table that was right in the middle of the room, was completely covered in delicious food. There were many chairs situated around the outside of the room.

“we’re having a little party tonight!” said a beaming Mrs Weasley

“What’s the occasion?” asked Ron

“Kingsley Shacklebolt has just been made Minister of Magic!” squealed Molly unable to contain the excitement from her voice.

“it’s about time they put someone decent in charge” growled mad eye from behind Harry.